Ladder



F. HRUBY LADDER Filed Oct. 5, '1932 ATTORNEY Patented Get. 9, 1934 Barren snares PATENT @FFICE Application October 3,

1 Claims.

My invention relates to ladder structure generally and more specifically to what is commonly called step-ladders.

The object of my invention is to provide a ladder of simple structure, with the least number of parts, easily assembled; which can be folded up to minimize the space required for storage thereof; which does not tip or fall over easily; which can be set against a wall or stand by itself on a floor; which has treads of unit structure contacting one stile or leg to locate and to secure the treads thereon and to prevent tilting of the treads horizontally and vertically.

I attain my objects by the mechanism illustratively shown in the accompanying drawing in which:

Fig. 1 is a front elevation of a step ladder embodying my invention.

Fig. 2 is a side elevation thereof.

Fig. 3 is a plan view thereof.

Fig. 4 is a fragmental sectional view of the top of the ladder showing the hinged structure at the top of the ladder.

Fig. 5 is a fragmental sectional View of the 25. bottom of the stile.

Fig. 6 is a transverse section on line 6-6 of Fig. 1 showing also a bottom plan view of the channel formed stile and the manner of holding the treads thereon.

Similar reference characters refer to similar parts throughout the views.

The ladder shown is of tripod formation so that it will stand reasonably secure even on a somewhat uneven ground or floor when set up by itself.

The tripod shown is composed of the stile 10 and the two legs 11 and 12.

The leg or stile 10 is of channel formation cross-sectionally to provide the web 13 and the 40 two flanges 14. and 15 for light weight of the structure and reception of the below described treads.

The stile as well as the other parts of the ladder may be made of light weight cast material such jas aluminum having one or more ingredients therein to provide necessary strength. Any and all of the parts may also be made of thin sheet material and may have parts thereof cut out wherever possible to reduce weight but to retain v necessary strength of the part. This cutting out to reduce weight is illustratively shown in Fig. 1 by the material removed or cut out and leaving the holes 16.

The foot bar 17 extends through the flanges J 14 and 15, traverses the stile, and has the feet 18 1932, Serial No. 635,958

and 19 on the ends thereof and the friction members 20 and 21 on the respective feet.

The feet are provided on the top so that the upper end of the ladder can be leaned against a wall with reasonable security and with the least amount of mar on the Wall.

The bracket 22, Fig. closes the slot 23 in the upper end of the stile and is shown with the set screw 24 therein to prevent rotation of the bar 17 and to permit such rotation to adjust the feet 18 and 19.

A similar structure is provided on the bottom of the stile for contact on the ground or on a floor.

The hanger 25 is suspended on the bar 17 between the flanges of the stile to swivel on an axis at right angles with the longitudinal axis of the stile.

Each of the legs 11 and 12 has the eye 26 and 27 respectively on the upper end thereof. The pin 28 extends through both of the eyes on opposite sides of the hanger and through the hanger 25. The axis of the pin 28 being at right angles to the axis of the bar 17 so that the bottom of the legs can be spread apart to convenient or desired distances for setting up of the ladder or can be folded close together so that the same can recede into the stile.

The friction feet 29 are provided on the lower ends of the legs 11 and 12 to prevent slipping thereof and marring of the floor thereby.

Fig. 1 shows a pair of struts 30 hinged together at 31 and hinged to both of the legs at 32 and 33 to lock the legs against excessive spreading and to normally retain the same in extended positions and to adapt the same to be folded up to recede into the stile. A looking or retaining means may be provided for the struts so that the legs can be positively held in positions closer together than is shown in Fig. 1.

Fig. 2 shows the chains 34 extending from each leg to the stile to limit the spreading between the legs and the stile. Hooks or the like may be provided on the stile or on the legs so that different links of the chain may be hooked thereonto for diiferent spreads between the stile and the legs.

The treads are shown as one piece castings composed of the tread part 35 at one side of the stile, the tread part 36 at the other side of the stile and the tread part 37 forwardly of the stile. The side flange part 38 contacts the flange 14 of the stile, the side flange part 39 contacts the flange 15 and the forward flange part 40 contacts the web 13 of the stile so that the tread til) can not move or tilt transversely or longitudinally in relation to the stile.

The one rivet 41 for each tread locates and holds each tread onto the stile. The flanges 42 on the treads tend to retain feet thereon.

The treads wholly supported on one stile is not new and is not claimed broadly herein but the specific tread structure and support thereof on one stile and the combinations of other and associated structure as related to and combined with the one stile and treads and the relations and combinations of the members of the other and associated Structure is new.

I am aware that changes and modifications can be made in the structure and arrangements of the parts shown and described Within the spirit and scope of the instant invention and the appended claims; therefore, without limiting myself to the precise structure and arrangements of parts as shown and described,

I claim:

1. In a ladder, the combination of a stile of channel formation cross-sectionally with treads each having a cut out part to let each tread straddle said stile, the major area part of each tread sidewise of said stile, side flanges adjacent to said out out part for contact on the corresponding flanges of said stile, a forward flange adjacent to said out out part for contact on the web of said stile, and one rivet through said forward flange and said web.

2. A ladder comprising a tripod structure composed of legs hinged together at one end thereof, one of said legs being of channel formation crosssectionally, treads located and supported on said one leg and contacting the flanges and the web thereof, and the others of said legs adapted to recede into said one leg when the ladder is lde 11 3. A ladder comprising a tripod structure composed of legs hinged together at one end thereof, one of said legs being of channel formation crosssectionally, treads located and supported on said one leg and contacting the flanges and web thereof confining means to limit the spread of said legs, and the others of said legs and said confining means adapted to recede into said one leg when the ladder is folded up.

4. In a ladder, the combination of a one piece stile of channel formation cross-sectionally, one piece tread members on said stile, a single fastening means for each of said tread members to support the same on said stile, flanges on said tread members for contact on the web and both flanges of said stile, and flanges on the end edges of said tread members to stiffen the same and to prevent a foot from slipping oif said tread members.

FRANK I' UBY. 

